Lloyd’s Register (LR) and TWI have announced a partnership to update their guidance for the certification of products produced by additive manufacturing (AM) processes and the qualification of AM facilities.
Specifically, the notes provide goal-based guidelines for the certification of parts produced using an AM process, including powder bed fusion by laser or electron beam, directed energy deposition by laser and Wire + Arc AM (WAAM).
These include parts being produced for sectors such including construction, energy, marine and offshore, medical and aerospace.
LR and TWI first published AM guidance notes back in January 2016 to help manufacturers establish the safety of 3D printed parts.
The guidance notes were updated in 2017 and this latest version reflects significant changes in technology over the last three years.
LR lead specialist David Hardacre, said: “Many businesses have used the previous guidance notes from LR and TWI to great effect.
“They’ve been designed for any business interested in starting their AM journey that needs to understand how qualification and certification requirements compare with conventional manufacturing processes – or for those who are already using AM and want to qualify their processes or certify their materials and/or parts.
“They’re also valuable for those organisations who sub-contract any element of their manufacturing to a supplier using AM, so they can understand what’s required for certification.”
AM certification such as this ensures businesses can verify the safety of their products to protect key stakeholders such as operators, assets, the environment and the public.
Paul Goodwin, PPL and PBF lead at TWI, said, “AM processes are increasingly being used in industry, but the uptake has been hindered by a lack of understanding of how to control the quality and reproducibility of the parts made and how to qualify and certify these parts for use.
“These guidance notes are designed to help chart the way through what can at times appear to be a confusing set of requirements and to establish what the appropriate requirements for certification are.”
LR and TWI have been working together on joint industry projects for several years, often alongside third parties such as Rolls Royce Nuclear and the Singapore Centre for 3D Printing at Nanyang Technological University (NTU Singapore).
Lloyd’s Register additive manufacturing has recently verified AM products and facilities for Shell, Keppel Marine & Offshore and Engie Laborelec.
